Chinese course / HSK1 / Characters
HSK1: character recognition
Begin with the gentle character starter if these shapes are new. This page is the official HSK 3.0 study list, with links to words containing each character. Use five to ten targets alongside words you already understand.
Look at a character inside a familiar word. Cover the word's reading and meaning, recall them, then open its example to check. Recognising a component alone does not tell you the meaning of every word containing it.
246 characters · Batch 15 of 25. Showing the selected level's list.
请
Learn inside a word
讠 on the left and 青 on the right. Compare the right side with the 吾 in 语.
请 · qǐng
please; invite, in selected uses
Practise this character in its guided group. The guided sequence introduces selected useful words across levels.
请问 · qǐngwèn
excuse me, may I ask
These are whole-word readings and selected meanings. A character can have another reading or function in another word.
Learn the 10 strokes · write 请
Watch the direction and order. Use “Next stroke” to go slowly, then try writing with the model hidden. On paper, copy once, cover the model, write once, and compare.
Open this panel to load the model.
The writing check compares your strokes with this model. A completed trace is practice, rather than proof of independent handwriting. Your strokes stay on this page.
The model's font shape can differ from the reading font. Compare stroke structure and proportions rather than font styling.
去
Learn inside a word
土 above 厶. The bottom turns rather than spreading like the lower strokes of 来.
去 · qù
go
Practise this character in its guided group. The guided sequence introduces selected useful words across levels.
去年 · qùnián
last year
These are whole-word readings and selected meanings. A character can have another reading or function in another word.
Learn the 5 strokes · write 去
Watch the direction and order. Use “Next stroke” to go slowly, then try writing with the model hidden. On paper, copy once, cover the model, write once, and compare.
Open this panel to load the model.
The writing check compares your strokes with this model. A completed trace is practice, rather than proof of independent handwriting. Your strokes stay on this page.
The model's font shape can differ from the reading font. Compare stroke structure and proportions rather than font styling.
热
Learn inside a word
执 above four lower marks 灬. Compare the lower marks with those beneath 点.
热 · rè
hot
Practise this character in its guided group. The guided sequence introduces selected useful words across levels.
These are whole-word readings and selected meanings. A character can have another reading or function in another word.
Learn the 10 strokes · write 热
Watch the direction and order. Use “Next stroke” to go slowly, then try writing with the model hidden. On paper, copy once, cover the model, write once, and compare.
Open this panel to load the model.
The writing check compares your strokes with this model. A completed trace is practice, rather than proof of independent handwriting. Your strokes stay on this page.
The model's font shape can differ from the reading font. Compare stroke structure and proportions rather than font styling.
人
Learn inside a word
Two sloping strokes meet near the top. Compare 人 with 大, which has an extra horizontal stroke.
人 · rén
person
Practise this character in its guided group. The guided sequence introduces selected useful words across levels.
家人 · jiārén
family members
These are whole-word readings and selected meanings. A character can have another reading or function in another word.
Learn the 2 strokes · write 人
Watch the direction and order. Use “Next stroke” to go slowly, then try writing with the model hidden. On paper, copy once, cover the model, write once, and compare.
Open this panel to load the model.
The writing check compares your strokes with this model. A completed trace is practice, rather than proof of independent handwriting. Your strokes stay on this page.
The model's font shape can differ from the reading font. Compare stroke structure and proportions rather than font styling.
认
Learn inside a word
讠 on the left and 人 on the right. Compare this simple right part with the more complex ones in 读 and 课.
认识 · rèn shi
know a person; recognise; be acquainted with
Practise this character in its guided group. The guided sequence introduces selected useful words across levels.
These are whole-word readings and selected meanings. A character can have another reading or function in another word.
Learn the 4 strokes · write 认
Watch the direction and order. Use “Next stroke” to go slowly, then try writing with the model hidden. On paper, copy once, cover the model, write once, and compare.
Open this panel to load the model.
The writing check compares your strokes with this model. A completed trace is practice, rather than proof of independent handwriting. Your strokes stay on this page.
The model's font shape can differ from the reading font. Compare stroke structure and proportions rather than font styling.
日
Learn inside a word
A box shape with a horizontal stroke inside. Compare it directly with empty 口.
日子 · rì zi
day; days in someone's life
Practise this character in its guided group. The guided sequence introduces selected useful words across levels.
日 · rì
day; a date marker in formal writing
星期日 · xīngqīrì
Sunday
These are whole-word readings and selected meanings. A character can have another reading or function in another word.
Learn the 4 strokes · write 日
Watch the direction and order. Use “Next stroke” to go slowly, then try writing with the model hidden. On paper, copy once, cover the model, write once, and compare.
Open this panel to load the model.
The writing check compares your strokes with this model. A completed trace is practice, rather than proof of independent handwriting. Your strokes stay on this page.
The model's font shape can differ from the reading font. Compare stroke structure and proportions rather than font styling.
三
Learn inside a word
Three horizontal lines. Count all three rather than guessing from the outline.
三天 · sān tiān
three days
Practise this character in its guided group. The guided sequence introduces selected useful words across levels.
三 · sān
three
These are whole-word readings and selected meanings. A character can have another reading or function in another word.
Learn the 3 strokes · write 三
Watch the direction and order. Use “Next stroke” to go slowly, then try writing with the model hidden. On paper, copy once, cover the model, write once, and compare.
Open this panel to load the model.
The writing check compares your strokes with this model. A completed trace is practice, rather than proof of independent handwriting. Your strokes stay on this page.
The model's font shape can differ from the reading font. Compare stroke structure and proportions rather than font styling.
商
Learn inside a word
A dot and horizontal line sit above small strokes and a lower enclosure with 口 inside.
商店 · shāng diàn
shop; store
Practise this character in its guided group. The guided sequence introduces selected useful words across levels.
These are whole-word readings and selected meanings. A character can have another reading or function in another word.
Learn the 11 strokes · write 商
Watch the direction and order. Use “Next stroke” to go slowly, then try writing with the model hidden. On paper, copy once, cover the model, write once, and compare.
Open this panel to load the model.
The writing check compares your strokes with this model. A completed trace is practice, rather than proof of independent handwriting. Your strokes stay on this page.
The model's font shape can differ from the reading font. Compare stroke structure and proportions rather than font styling.
上
Learn inside a word
A long horizontal base below the vertical line and its shorter horizontal line. Contrast the position with 下.
上面 · shàng miàn
above; on top
Practise this character in its guided group. The guided sequence introduces selected useful words across levels.
上 · shàng
on; up; attend, depending on the frame
上班 · shàngbān
go to work; be at work
These are whole-word readings and selected meanings. A character can have another reading or function in another word.
Learn the 3 strokes · write 上
Watch the direction and order. Use “Next stroke” to go slowly, then try writing with the model hidden. On paper, copy once, cover the model, write once, and compare.
Open this panel to load the model.
The writing check compares your strokes with this model. A completed trace is practice, rather than proof of independent handwriting. Your strokes stay on this page.
The model's font shape can differ from the reading font. Compare stroke structure and proportions rather than font styling.
少
Learn inside a word
A 小-like upper part has an additional sloping stroke below it. Keep that stroke when comparing 少 with 小.
少 · shǎo
few; little
少 is shǎo here. It is shào in words such as 少年, young person.
Practise this character in its guided group. The guided sequence introduces selected useful words across levels.
多少 · duōshao
how many; how much
These are whole-word readings and selected meanings. A character can have another reading or function in another word.
Learn the 4 strokes · write 少
Watch the direction and order. Use “Next stroke” to go slowly, then try writing with the model hidden. On paper, copy once, cover the model, write once, and compare.
Open this panel to load the model.
The writing check compares your strokes with this model. A completed trace is practice, rather than proof of independent handwriting. Your strokes stay on this page.
The model's font shape can differ from the reading font. Compare stroke structure and proportions rather than font styling.
Source and coverage
Character lists come from the official HSK 3.0 syllabus. Recognition and handwriting lists remain separate. All listed characters have local stroke models; the guided prose teaches selected characters. This inventory, model practice and word links do not constitute complete character instruction or exam readiness.
Stroke models: Hanzi Writer Data, derived from Make Me a Hanzi. Copyright © 1999 Arphic Technology Co., Ltd. Data is provided without warranty and may be redistributed under the Arphic Public License. The renderer uses the MIT license.